An Uber driver has reportedly admitted murdering a British diplomat in Lebanon. Rebecca Dykes’ body was found on the side of a motorway near Beirut on Saturday, sparking a major police investigation.

According to Lebanon’s NNA agency, officers raided a property in the early hours of Monday morning, resulting in the arrest of an Uber driver named only as Tarek H. He has reportedly admitted picking up the diplomat in his taxi before attempting to rape her and strangling her.

Police sources say Dykes, who was due to fly home for Christmas on Saturday, had been strangled. An initial post-mortem examination was conducted, but an official cause of death was not revealed. A second examination has been scheduled.

Local officials have confirmed claims she was raped, however this has not been verified.